Caster Semenya loses testosterone case against the IAAF in CAS ruling

Caster Semenya has lost her case against athletics' governing body the IAAF in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The decision announced by CAS on Wednesday, means that the double Olympic champion will be forced to reduce her natural levels of testetorone to compete in distances from 400m to the mile.

The panel of three CAS judges ruled 2-1 that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) regulations are necessary to ensure fair competition.

The IAAF welcomed the CAS decision expressing gratitude "for its detailed and prompt response to the challenge made to its Eligibility Regulations".

Last April, the IAAF issued Eligibility Regulations for Female Classification requiring female athletes with testes or naturally high concentrations of testosterone to reduce their levels sufficiently to be able to compete at distances between 400 metres and a mile.

In this landmark judgment, CAS says the IAAF's proposed rules on athletes with "differences of sex development (DSD) are discriminatory but "such discrimination is a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the IAAF's aim of preserving the integrity of female athletics in the Restricted Events."

Now what?

Speaking at the Australian Olympic Committee annual general meeting in Sydney IOC President Thomas Bach said the IOC accepts the CAS decision, and he expressed "sympathy" for Semenya: "I must say, I have a lot of sympathy for Caster Semenya being in this position. The issue such as this is extremely complex. It has scientific impact, it has an ethical impact. It has the impact of fair play in the competition. So it's extremely delicate and extremely difficult."

Thomas Bach: "I have a lot of sympathy for Caster Semenya"

Thomas Bach: "I have a lot of sympathy for Caster Semenya"

Thomas Bach: "I have a lot of sympathy for Caster Semenya"

IOC President Thomas Bach admits he has "a lot of sympathy" for Caster Semenya after the double Olympic champion from South Africa lost her appeal against new IAAF regulations in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Bach calls the issue "extremely complex" and says the IOC accepts the CAS decision. An IOC working group will issue guidance to sports federations after the Semenya ruling.

Following the ruling, the International Olympic Committee(IOC) said in a statement: "We have taken note of the CAS decision in this case and recognise these issues are complex. The IOC is currently working with a group of experts on the creation of guidelines to help International Federations shape sport specific policies and regulations in relation to fairness, safety, inclusivity, and non-discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex characteristics.”

The ruling would force Semenya to start taking medication to lower her testosterone level within one week if she wanted to defend her 800m title at the World Championships in Doha in September

South Africa's superstar reacted with a tweet saying sometimes "it's better to react with no reaction".

"I know that the IAAF's regulations have always targeted me specifically. For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger. The decision of the CAS will not hold me back. I will once again rise above and continue to inspire young women and athletes in South Africa and around the world."

Semenya has 30 days to appeal the CAS ruling at the Swiss Federal Tribunal but she could also take the case to the European Court of Justice.

She has always insisted she just wanted "to run naturally the way I was born".

"It is not fair that I am told I must change. It is not fair that people question who I am." - Caster Semenya

Athletics South Africa (ASA) called the decision "disgraceful" and said it will meet soon to discuss the next steps.

"ASA respects the CAS decision and will now review the ruling and decide whether to consider the option of taking this matter to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within the 30 days as stipulated in the ruling," it said in a statement.

South Africa's government ensured Semenya of "continued support as we navigate the future with her" and promised to lobby through other international organisations.

A late entry in Diamond League opener

In a surprising move Semenya was added to the 800m field at the Diamond League opener in Doha just one day before the meet. It is expected to be her last meet before the new testosterone rules go into effect.

The 800m race on Friday evening in Doha will feature all medallists from last year's world championships and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Support from her rivals

Speaking exclusively to Olympic Channel, the Rio 2016 and 2017 World Championship silver medallist from Burundi opens up about her tough career start, her dreams for Olympic glory and the medical data hack. She claims the new IAAF regulations are "about discrimination".

Exclusive! Francine Niyonsaba:"I didn't choose to be born like this..."

Exclusive! Francine Niyonsaba:"I didn't choose to be born like this..."

The Rio 800m silver medallist from Burundi opens up about her tough career start, her dreams for Olympic glory and the medical data hack.

What was the IAAF proposing?

The IAAF had argued that "high levels of endogenous (internally-produced) testosterone can significantly enhance their sporting performance" citing "broad medical and scientific consensus".

"The revised rules are not about cheating, no athlete with a DSD has cheated, they are about levelling the playing field to ensure fair and meaningful competition in the sport of athletics." - IAAF president Sebastian Coe

IAAF president Sebastian Coe speaks during the 214th IAAF Council in Buenos Aires in July 2018IAAF president Sebastian Coe speaks during the 214th IAAF Council in Buenos Aires in July 2018

They stated that "7.1 in every 1000 elite female athletes in our sport have elevated testosterone levels" with the majority in track events at distances ranging from 400 metres (including hurdles) to a mile.

The policy says any runner with a Difference of Sexual Development (DSD) resulting in high testosterone must take medication, eg. hormonal contraceptives, to bring it below the 5 nmol/L limit for at least six months.

That level must be maintained continuously thereafter for the athlete to be eligible for competition.

Most females have blood testosterone concentrations between 0.12 and 1.79 nmol/L.

IAAF headquarters in MonacoIAAF headquarters in Monaco

These new rules were approved by the IAAF Council in March 2018 and scheduled to take effect last November.

But Semenya quickly voiced her opposition to the measures and took her case to sport's supreme independent arbiters, CAS.

In 2011, the female Hyperandrogenism Regulations came in effect with Semenya taking silver behind Russia's Mariya Savinova at the Daegu World Championships and London 2012.

That was upgraded to gold in 2017 after Savinova was recorded on video admitting to taking anabolic steroids.

But Semenya's performances were well below her best in the period up to 2015 when the hyperandrogenism regulations were suspended.

Chand's fight to compete

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand went to CAS after the Athletics Federation of India had declared her ineligible to compete in the 2014 Commonwealth Games due to the IAAF's hyperandrogenism regulations.

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand.Indian sprinter Dutee Chand.

She won her case in July 2015 with CAS suspending the IAAF's Hyperandrogenism Regulations for two years, concluding there was not enough evidence to support the theory that high levels of endogenous testosterone enhanced athletic performance.

Chand's story is told in the Olympic Channel documentary series 'Foul Play'.

Foul Play: Dutee

Foul Play: Dutee

Foul Play: Dutee

Indian sprinter Dutee Chand challenged gender testing policies after being disqualified for natural hormone levels. Her case made history.

The IAAF had two years to come up with further evidence supporting their rules or they would be rendered void.

This allowed athletes with hyperandrogenism to compete without suppression of their testosterone levels with Semenya winning gold in the 800m at Rio 2016.

Chand qualified for her first Olympic Games, going out in the heats of the 100 metres, and spoke to Semenya about her case.

After a number of delays agreed with CAS, the IAAF unveiled their new regulations with testosterone suppression proposed for Semenya's preferred distances but not Chand's sprint events.

Speaking to The Indian Express last April, Chand revealed she had offered Semenya her legal team.

"The first time I met Semenya, during the Rio Games, she made me feel like a close friend. She told me not worry about the case and focus on the sport. She gave me tips on handling the barbs thrown at me.

"I am glad that my battle is over, but hers is not." - Dutee Chand talking to The Indian Express about Caster Semenya in April 2018

March 2010

July 2010

Semenya cleared to compete again 11 months after claiming the world title, winning two minor races in Finland.

August 2010

Semenya breaks two minutes for the first time since the controversy at the ISTAF meeting in Berlin where she took World Championship gold a year previously.

Caster Semenya wins the ISTAF 2010 800m in Berlin's Olympic Stadium where she claimed the world title a year earlierCaster Semenya wins the ISTAF 2010 800m in Berlin's Olympic Stadium where she claimed the world title a year earlier